The proposed bill aims to establish the Public Defense and Provisioning Act in West Virginia, which would create a state office responsible for the procurement and sale of machine guns to qualified individuals. The bill includes a series of new articles that outline the legislative findings supporting the right to bear arms, particularly machine guns, as well as the establishment of the Office of Public Defense within the West Virginia State Police. This office would be tasked with acquiring machine guns that are similar to those used by law enforcement and military, verifying the eligibility of purchasers, and operating distribution stations for the sale of these firearms.

Additionally, the bill amends existing law regarding the possession of machine guns, specifying that individuals must comply with either federal statutes or state laws to legally possess such weapons. It also introduces provisions for the collection of surcharges on machine gun sales to fund the operations of the Public Defense Fund, which will support the administration of the program. The bill emphasizes the intent to enhance public safety and the ability of citizens to defend themselves and the state, while also outlining the responsibilities and liabilities of the Office of Public Defense and its director.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 61-7-9, 15-6A-1, 15-6A-2, 15-6A-3, 15-6A-4, 15-6A-5, 15-6A-6, 15-6A-7, 15-6A-8, 15-6A-9, 15-6A-10, 15-6A-11, 15-6A-12